Styling your home to make it look its best when it's on the market, also known as staging, can be more complicated than you would think. But you don't have to rush out and empty the local Williams-Sonoma [and your wallet] to show the potential of your property. Here are some tips for showcasing your home.   The walk-through. Have a critical eye as you move from the curb to the front door. Look for areas that need cleaning and clearing out. Imagine what buyers will be looking for rather than imposing your sense of style on the house. Focus on the highlights of each room and note ways to play those features up.   Clean, clean, clean. If buyers aren't fond of clutter, they'll be even less fond of dust bunnies in corners, dirty footprints across the linoleum, and fingerprints on the stainl... 06/14/2013

Father's Day Events, Things to do, & Reservations Santa Clarita, Los Angeles & Southern California  Weather Forecast for Santa Clarita on Father's Day June 16, 2013  Brunch in Valencia TPC at Valencia Westridge "Oaks Grille Father's Day BBQ" June 16th Reservations BJ's Brewhouse Valencia Mall June 15 - 16, 2013 Salt Creek Grille Valencia Mall June 16, 2013  Buca Di Beppo in Valencia Father's Day Reservations on Open Table  Wolf Creek Father's Day Menu "Breakfast & Dinner" 2013  Paseo Club Tennis Club in Valencia "Father's Day Brunch June 16th  Surrounding Area Brunch  Le Chene French Cuisine in Agua Dulce June 16, 2013  Odyssey in Granada Hills "Father's Day Brunch Buffet & BBQ June 16th  Morton's Steakhouse Beverly Hills "Let us do the Grilling!"  "Dine with Dad" Open Table Reservation... 06/11/2013

We knew it would happen!  Prices rise and inventories will grow.  However this growth of available homes for sale has done nothing to lower the demand for well priced and located homes.  The newest phenomenon is seeing overpriced listings.  A local Realtor knows if a home is overpriced and will let their buyers know before showing the home.  Having a great local Realtor is now as or more important than it has ever been! There were about 1,600 Active Listings in all areas of the Santa Clarita Valley at the high level mark. The low level mark of Active listings in the Santa Clarita Valley was 240 There are currently 290 Active Listings in all areas of the Santa Clarita Valley! Active Listings by Area: Valencia - 81 Stevenson Ranch - 12 Castaic - 25 Saugus - 49 Newhall - 42 Canyon Country ... 05/27/2013

Have a wonderful holiday weekend & remember to thank those that allowed us to be free and gave their all for us! Watch this Trace Adkins Tribute to our Fallen Soldiers called Arlington: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2USbTqRst8A Proud Americans, Tony & Dani Lewis RE/MAX of Valencia www.TonyLewis.com tonyglewis@yahoo.com Cell - 661-510-7975 05/25/2013

Looking to sell, buy or learn about Santa Clarita, Ca? I'm here for you! Memorial Day Santa Clarita, Los Angeles & Southern California Donate to the Wounded Warrior Project May 24, 25, 26, 27, 2013 Campgrounds "First Come First Served" in California for Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Parks Opened in California for Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Spring Hikes in California Open Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Whitewater Rafting in California Memorial Day Weekend Six Flags Magic Mountain Valencia, Ca - Open Memorial Day Weekend May 27th Huricane Harbor Valencia, Ca. Open Memorial Day Weekend Memorial Day! Valencia "Paseo Tennis & Swim Club Memorial Day BBQ" May 27th! Mountasia in Santa Clarita "Memorial Day Weekend Special" May 24 - 27th Valencia "William S Hart Baseball 1st Annual Memorial Day Tournament... 05/19/2013

Finding your new home in California! Brand New Homes and new home builders have home being built in numbers unseen in many years.  Santa Clarita, California is offering homes in Valencia, Fair Oaks Ranch, Sand Canyon, Canyon Country and Saugus. New Homes are available in Filmore, Ventura, as well as most areas of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.  Homes are being built in Northern, Central and Southern California as well. My California DRE License number 01215778 allows representation at all New Home Tracts in California.  Let me know if you would like to see a Brand New Home in California.  I will set up a showing for all Brand New Homes that match your price range, size of home or lot, attached or detached and locations.  You will benefit from my experience as well as find all of the ... 05/14/2013

Valencia Westridge is located immediately north of Stevenson Ranch and adjacent to the Valencia area within tohe City of Santa Clarita, California.  Valencia Westridge is the community that was built around the TPC at Valencia Westridge Golf Course.  Home in Westridge range in price, style, location, custom or tract, gated and not gated, attached or detached, condo, town home or garden home also called duplex.  There are also home with golf course views and city views.  The community has distinct benefits such as having an elementary school, junior high school and high school in the heart of the community.  There are also amenities that make living in Westridge more appealing than many other prime locations.  There are two pools, 2 spas, an elegant clubhouse and garden area which many r... 05/11/2013

Amgen Tour of California in Santa Clarita 2013   Santa Clarita Traffic & Road Closures due to the tour   Amgen Tour of California Breakaway Mile Registration    Stage 3 Palmdale to Santa Clarita May 14th   Stage 4 Santa Clarita to Santa Barbara May 15th   Amgen Tour of California returns to Santa Clarita    Map of Stages of the Amgen Tour of California 2013   Live TV Coverage Schedule of the Tour  Host Cities for the Tour  Host City Santa Clarita Information Page  Amgen Tour of California Spectator Guide  History of the Amgen Tour of Califorina    Present by your Friends & Realtor,   Tony & Dani Lewis RE/MAX of Valencia  Cell - 661-510-7975   05/08/2013

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Realtors, Dani & I love our Mother and appreciate the love, dedication and sacrifices the give daily!Take a look at these wonderful ways to make Mom's day memorable:Special Events, Brunches, Things to do in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles & Southern California! Memorial Day Weekend begins in 17 Days!Formerly Called Decoration Day the holiday was created to honor our fallen soldiers.We now celebrate this Holiday honoring the memory of those we love and have lost.Dani & I hope all of your memories are wonderful!Check out these Memorial Day Weekend Events, Places to go & things to do! The local real estate market remains red hot.  There are only 256 active listing in the Santa Clarita Valley:Valenica - 68Stevenson Ranch - 11Castaic - 19Saugus - 54Newhall - 30Canyo... 05/07/2013

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Realtors, It's been Seven long years since I last sent a monthly newsletter declaring that this is an incredible time to list your home for sale.  If you or those you know are even thinking about listing your home give me a call.  It is finally time to sell and also sell for thousands of dollars above market and appraisal value.  There are, on average, about 15 - 20 offers on each and every well priced and located homes.  There are so many all cash buyers and Conventional Financed home buyers with excess cash willing to remove the appraisal contingency that homes can sell for $20,000, $30,000 $50,000 and even higher above the current market value.  There is no other Realtor that will market your home, have in on the front page of Zillow & Trulia and also b... 04/21/2013

  Why Make an Extra Mortgage Payment? Considering the current state of the economy, many people are trying to pay down debt to unburden themselves financially. Have you considered paying down your home loan? Your mortgage is probably the biggest debt you will have in your lifetime; paying it off early will save you potentially thousands of dollars that you'll keep in your pocket, to spend on vacations or college tuition, or to save for a rainy day.   If you're interested in paying down your mortgage faster, you can make just one extra payment per month — or even just one extra payment over the life of the loan. You'll be surprised at how much you can save!   Making a Difference Here's an example. Say you have a mortgage for $210,000. Your interest rate is 4% and your original monthly p... 04/19/2013

Dear Clients, Friend & Fellow Realtors, There is a misconception that a Home Buyer would be better off going into a Brand New Home Community.  This is ins a major mistake that many home buyers have make for many years.  You see, New Home Communities depend on the Realtor to bring in the most qualified, motivated and knowledgeable Home Buyers and have done so for decades.  A Realtor screens the client and educates them to the buying process.  There is a much higher success rate for Brand New Homes sold to the Client that is brought in by a Realtor. This is the reason the New Home Tracts pay a commission.  Keep in mind that the Realtor is not just a Ticket Taker.  We do our job and earn our commission.  The New Homes Sellers prefer to work with a Realtor.  In Fact, the commission structur... 04/12/2013

Mother's Day Brunch, Events & To Do in Valencia, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles & Southern California May 12, 2013! Happy Mother's Day May 12, 2013 Flowers for Mother's Day at Claire's Flowers Valencia, Ca.  Flowers for Mother's Day at Bloomies Florist Newhall, ca. Blooming Affairs Same Day Delivery Mother's Day all  of Santa Clarita, Ca. Flowers for Mother's Day from "FTD Florists" Flower Specials for Mother's Day 2012 at "ProFlowers.com" Mother's Day Gift Ideas from "Tiffany & Co" Valencia, Ca. "Buca Di Beppo Open Mother's Day" May 12, 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers vs Miami Marlins Tickets on Mother's Day 2013 Experience the Beatles with Rain at the Pantages Mother's Day 2013 Scooby Doo Live! Musical Mysteries Noon, 3PM & 6:30PM at the Dolby in Hollywood Mother's Day 2013 Reagan Library "Mothe... 04/08/2013

I’ll list my home with you if… Selling a home in the current market is easy.  Selling at top dollar doesn’t take much of an effort but choosing the right Realtor for the job takes some research and getting a little lucky too. There are many questions and concerns that home owners have in choosing their Realtor, setting the list price and getting the terms of the sale. All Realtors are not the same.  Listing with the top Realtor is not the answer either.  You see, a lot of top agents made it to the top by selling their listings quickly and at times, selling before the home even hit the market.  The best way to represent a home owner on the sale of their home is to reach as many Realtors and the clients they serve as possible.  Getting the most number of people in to see the home will bri... 04/06/2013

    Maximize Your Referrals Repeat customers are the lifeblood of real estate professionals. But we also need to increase our sphere of influence in order to grow our business. Developing strong relationships with your clients will help you on both fronts, by promoting client loyalty and by providing value in order to spur referrals form those same loyal customers.   According to the National Association of REALTORS®, about 20 percent of all business their members receive is through repeat customers. If 20 percent of your clients are recommending you to their friends, families, and coworkers, you will grow a strong and healthy business. If they aren't referring you — well, let's make sure they are!   You're Also Selling You You're not just helping clients find new homes and properties —... 04/05/2013

It never seizes to amaze me, being from Detroit, Michigan, how the home buying season here in Southern California runs on the same schedule as it does in the snow belt.  We have weather in the 90's at time during the Winter but our peak home selling season really start once Easter Arrives.  It is also an oddity that the start of the selling season doesn't get started until Easter whether Easter is early or late in the calendar year.  Life as a Realtor will surely get even more difficult as our job description is now heavy weighted to being educators.  The better teacher a Realtor is the quicker their clients learn and the higher chances of success.Looking to sell or buy a home in Santa Clarita, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, California or the USA?  Call me and I'll get you in the right dire... 03/31/2013

Talk about wearing 2 hats! There are always 2 sides to a transaction and buying a home is quite different than most of them.  A home seller has the goal of selling at the highest price that will give them the highest net at the closing.  A buyer’s goals are quite the opposite.  They wish to pay the low amount with terms that are favorable for them. The tricky part is the representation which leads to the reason for a Realtor.  You see a Realtor is a fiduciary and by law must represent the highest and best interest of the clients they serve. As a a Realtor for the Seller, my goal is to sell the home at the top prices in the shortage time, with the best terms and no future concerns.  This part of the job also represents vicariously the entire neighborhood as stabilizing and raising home v... 03/29/2013

Home ownership is the foundation and building block of a community, City, County, State and Nation.  When a person buys a home they are sharing the responsibility of owning part of their neighborhood.  The home owner pays property taxes and in some cases a Mello Roos Bond to support local resources, parks, open spaces and schools.  They also take a pride of ownership and invest in the maintenance of the home and landscape.  The home owner, especially in good times, will upgrade the home and add to the market value of the home which also upgrades the neighborhood and enhances property values.  The higher the homes are worth the higher the property tax revenue increases.  Without the tax benefits we could see a massive decline In property conditions and falling home prices.  This will ine... 03/27/2013

  It's that time of year again: get ready to gather up the paperwork and settle in to get your tax forms completed. Whether you use a commercial software, stick it out on your own, or hire a professional, there are some documents you'll need to be sure you have to hand when you're maximizing the write-offs you can get by having a home mortgage.   Staying Organized Hopefully you've been keeping all your paperwork organized throughout the year. If you haven't there is no better time than right now to start: Set up folders in your file drawers for 2013 and start putting the papers where they belong! When it comes to your home, you'll want to hang on to your mortgage bills and your year-end mortgage statement; any receipts for home improvements that increased the energy efficiency of your h... 03/26/2013

3 Financial Reasons to Buy a Home NOW! (Part I) by The KCM Crew5 This week, we are going to look at the three financial reasons to buy a home now instead of waiting: prices are rising at an accelerated rate, interest rates are increasing and rents are skyrocketing. – The KCM Crew Part I – Prices Are Rising at an Accelerated Rate The price of a home is the major consideration when deciding whether or not it makes financial sense to purchase a house. Experts are not only projecting that house values will increase in 2013. They are also more optomistic in the level of appreciation they are projecting as the market begins to heat up. Here are some examples: The Home Price Expectation Survey The latest survey of a nationwide panel of 118 economists, real estate experts and investment and ma... 03/25/2013